My name is Yaneli Almonte-Arias, and I am honored and grateful to join Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope as the Director of School Operations. As a mother of two and an educator with over 16 years of experience, I deeply understand the trust families place in a school each day.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Event and Sport Management, with a concentration in Psychology, from Johnson & Wales University. I am also completing my MBA in Organizational Leadership. My professional background spans over a decade in operations and customer service with Gillette Stadium and Showcase Cinemas, as well as leadership roles in education. I served as Director of Before and After School Programs at the YMCA for four years, followed by eight years with the Chariho School Department and three years with the Providence Public School Department. In addition to my professional work, I actively support and collaborate with Stop the Wait RI, a nonprofit organization of parents, educators, advocates, and community leaders committed to amplifying parent voices and advocating for a stronger educational landscape for all children.

I was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States at the age of 12, settling in New York City, where I completed middle and high school. I later moved to Rhode Island for college and have now lived here for over 24 years, raising my family. I have been married for over 21 years to my high school sweetheart. As a first-generation college graduate, my journey has shaped my belief that every child has a unique story that deserves to be known, supported, and celebrated. At the heart of my work is a simple but powerful commitment: your child’s safety and well-being come first. From arrival to dismissal, every student is entrusted to our care, and I take that responsibility personally. My goal is to build your trust by ensuring that each child feels safe, supported, and seen every single day. I believe that strong school operations create the foundation for everything else—allowing teachers to focus on joyful instruction and students to grow both academically and spiritually. As Pope Saint John Paul II said, “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” I carry this mindset into my work each day, knowing that what we do now helps shape the lives of our children.

As a practicing Catholic and a member of St. Charles Parish in Providence for over 16 years, I feel especially blessed to serve in a school where faith and education are united. I look forward to getting to know your families, hearing your stories, and helping to build a school community that truly feels like a home away from home.

Mr. Casey and his wife, Laurie, have lived in Jamestown, Rhode Island for 30 years and are parents of 5 children and the grandparents of 4. He is a trustee at his local parish, St. Mark Church in Jamestown, RI. Mr. Casey received his B.S. in Resource Development and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island and started his own business which he sold in 2016. During his career, he helped start several businesses in industries which ranged from manufacturing to online marketing. In previous years, he has served on various boards including Magdalen College, The Mother of Life Center, and St. Edmund's Retreat Center. He brings a broad spectrum of skills which he hopes will help families who want a strong, Catholic, and classical education for their children.

mcasey@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Casey grew up in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and attended Catholic schools throughout her education. In high school, she discovered a love for math and felt drawn to teaching. She went on to earn her degree in Secondary Education Mathematics from The Catholic University of America. Since graduation, she has taught Algebra I and Geometry at a Catholic high school in New Jersey and recently moved to Rhode Island after marrying her husband. She joins Chesterton as a mathematics teacher and looks forward to helping her students build confidence and a genuine appreciation for math.

Dr. Duffy is a native Rhode Islander who graduated from Bishop Hendricken High School in 2009. He received a B.A. in Philosophy and Humanities from Villanova University and a PhD in Philosophy from Fordham University, and taught undergraduate courses at the same institutions. His academic and scholarly career is marked by many prestigious fellowships and honors. Most recently, he served as the assistant headmaster of a classical charter school in Austin, Texas.

"Students at Chesterton Academy will encounter the beauty and wonder of reality through a richly classical and Christ-centered education, one that fosters true friendship in the pursuit of wisdom and holiness,” said Dr. Duffy in a written statement. “I am excited to return to my home state of Rhode Island to serve as the founding headmaster.”

rduffy@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Garcia and her husband, Alex, live in Johnston, RI with their two children. Originally from Massachusetts, Mrs. Garcia moved to Rhode Island shortly before getting married in 2022. She spent multiple years working in the financial industry while attending college, prior to working in the public school system. When her oldest was born, Mrs. Garcia left education to be a stay-at-home mom, and shortly after was connected with the CAOLH community, and RI Right to Life, where she is also the Education Manager.

kgarcia@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Duffy completed an MFA in painting at the Marchutz School of Fine Arts in France. She has participated in many art shows and sold her paintings which hang in private collections in several different countries. Mrs. Duffy has taught art to all grade levels, from 1st grade to high school, for several years at a classical school, as well as developed art curriculum and a teaching guide for art teachers. Mrs. Duffy also completed an MA in philosophy from KU Leuven in Belgium, focusing on Hans Urs von Balthasar and the nature of beauty. She received her BA in english and philosophy from Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

mduffy@chestertonri.org

Dr. Robert Gervasini is a native Rhode Islander who first discovered the Classics at Providence College, where his love for the Ancient Greek and Christian wisdom traditions was born. After graduating in 2015, Robert earned his MA and PhD in philosophy at the Catholic University of America. He has earned scholarships and distinctions in his scholarly work. Robert has taught undergraduate courses in the history of philosophy, Western Civilization, Ethics, and Ancient Greek language. Robert and his wife Miriam met in Italy and now live in Southern RI. Robert is looking forward to serving as the Academic Dean at Chesterton Academy, where young men and women are formed by their encounter with the Classics. In addition to being the Academic Dean at Chesterton, Robert is an adjunct professor at Providence College. 

Mr. Gotcher was brought up and home-schooled in Franklin, Wisconsin. After high school, he studied music composition at Lawrence University for one year. He then took a year to work and discern God’s will for him, after which he found himself studying the Great Books and growing in his faith at Thomas Aquinas College. Mr. Gotcher is excited to share his love of music, language, and the Great Books with the CAOLH community.

tgotcher@chestertonri.org

Mr. Jefferson lived in Germany for fifteen years, graduating high school there. After moving to Maryland, he pursued an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and History at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Some of his favorite fields of study include medieval history and Ancient Greek philosophy. In addition to the humanities, he has a deep love for music and has been involved in music ministry for many years. He plays a number of instruments, most prominently piano and guitar, and loves to write music and perform. He is also fluent in German. At Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope, he will be teaching in the Humanities and Music.

hjefferson@chestertonri.org

Mr. Labbe is a geochemist who has also studied electrical engineering and mathematics. He is a lifelong learner, currently learning Latin and reading great works in his free time. While he now works for the Warwick Sewer Authority, Mr. Labbe has also served as a high school chemistry teacher and as a substitute teacher in several other subjects. A devout Catholic and member of the Knights of Columbus, Mr. Labbe lives with his wife in Rumford, RI.

clabbe@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Magaña graduated high school in Coventry, Rhode Island, and then set out for four years of backpacking, speaking Latin, and immersion in the great philosophy, theology, literature, and art of Western Civilization at Wyoming Catholic College. After graduating, she spent two years teaching Latin at a charter school in Phoenix, Arizona. She met her husband in Phoenix, and is overjoyed to teach at Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope.

mmagana@chestertonri.org

Mr. Magaña grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia, where he was homeschooled for much of his education. After receiving his Associates Degree and working for several years as a network engineer, Mr. Magaña developed a deep love for truth, goodness, and beauty while studying theoretical mathematics, which led him to complete a Masters degree in Mathematics from Arizona State University.

While a graduate student, Mr. Magaña also taught math full-time for a classical academy in Phoenix, where he met his wife, Margaret, also a teacher there. Mr. Magaña brings a deep love of the liberal arts and a profound conviction of the importance of human formation through education.

jmagana@chestertonri.org

Mr. Mattias is a pipe organ technician, President of Potter-Rathbun Organ Co., and an Eagle Scout (’86).  Upon graduation from Bishop Hendricken HS in 1988, he began serving as Director of Music/Organist/Choir Director at his home parish, Our Lady of Częstochowa in Coventry. Brian is an accomplished musician in many instruments and genres, as well as an organ builder and composer.

Mr. Mattias is Past Grand Knight of Msgr. Peter E. Blessing Council (K of C) and volunteers as a Grab & Go (soup kitchen) team leader with the SVdP Society Coventry Conference.  He lives in Exeter with his wife Heather-Rose and their daughters Alana & Kira, both students at CAOLH.

bmattias@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Mongno supports the marketing and development efforts of Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope. With experience in institutional advancement at Catholic schools and small non-profits, she is excited to help Chesterton continue to grow and spread the joy of a Catholic, classical education. She holds degrees in theology and the humanities from Providence College. She and her husband, Ryan, live in Rhode Island and are members of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in East Greenwich.

emongno@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Noberini and her husband, Robert, live in Paxton, MA  and are the proud parents of their daughter, Isabella, who is a current Chesterton student. Mrs. Noberini is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has a BS in Microbiology. She worked for many years in the pharmaceutical industry before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom, then working full-time outside the home in retail management, all while homeschooling up through 8th grade. Prior to coming to Chesterton full-time, she worked as the secretary of her home parish in Worcester, MA. 

jnoberini@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Abigail Tardiff has a B.A. in the Liberal Arts and an M.A. in Philosophy. In addition to homeschooling her seven children, Mrs. Tardiff has 12 years' experience teaching high school English, Theology, and Philosophy. She regularly edits manuscripts for Ignatius Press. Mrs. Tardiff is excited to be part of the Chesterton community and teach classical philosophy and literature.

atardiff@chestertonri.org